March 20th, Friday: 2 Corinthians 2 - 3

2 Cor 2

Feelings.

From a heart of love touched with pain, Paul wrote a severe letter to the church, hoping to correct the problem.

He brought grief to his dear friends and that brought grief to Paul.

But they had disciplined the man who had caused the trouble.

You see, Paul was not afraid to share his feelings with others.

When you are out of touch with your feelings, you are out of touch with reality.

Forgiveness.

In Warren Wiersbe's Bible commentary, he said, 'When sinners truly repent, we should forgive them and reaffirm our love to them. Otherwise they might become discouraged and give Satan an opportunity to accuse and attack.'

Love does not condone sin.

But it does cover sin when God has washed it away.

Fragrance.

Paul described a Roman triumph - the official parade given to a victorious general when he returned to Rome.

The incense carried by the priest meant life to the Roman soldiers, but death to the prisoners who would end up in the arena with the wild animals.

You know Christ has conquered and we're privileged to march in His triumphal procession,.

2 Cor 3

The legalist who caused trouble in both Antioch and Jerusalem had come to Corinth and had enticed some of the believers into living by the law of Moses.

Paul refuted their position by showing the wonders of the new covenant ministry.

The background is Exodus chapter 34.

Change hearts is the new covenant.

The Law only revealed sin.

It cannot renew the inner person.

The Spirit wants to write a new version of His Word on your heart.

Will you let Him?

Warren Wiersbe says it gives life.

The Law kills but grace gives life and sustains that life.

God's children have a living relationship with Him through the Spirit of life.

By the way, it gets more and more glorious.

The glory of the law is gone. The Temple, the priesthood, the ceremonies and the awesome revelation of God's power – it's all gone.

But the glory of God's grace remains and grows more and more glorious.

And it brings freedom!

The law brings bondage, but grace gives glorious freedom, that makes us more and more like Jesus Christ.

Each day, you can have your own personal transfiguration, as you worship the Lord and yield to the Spirit.